Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Finland from 1985 to 1990

Abstract

Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Finland from 1985 to 1990 was monitored by the moss technique. The objectives were to examine the change in the heavy metal deposition with time and to produce information about the deposition and the emission sources. Samples were collected from the permanent sampling network systematically covering the country as a whole. The total number of samples was 4883 and the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and V were determined. Some important emission sources cause local enhancements of the concentrations in moss. High metal concentrations were found around the Harjavalta smelters, around the Tornio steel mill and in the north-eastern parts of Lapland near the Finnish-Russian border close to heavy metal industry in the Kola Peninsula. Elevated levels were also found around the Raahe smeleter and around the oil refineries in Naantali and Porvoo. The effect of long-range transport from the Central and East Europe can be seen especially for Cd, Pb and V. Significant decrease in the concentrations of some elements was found from 1985 to 1990.